SWIFTly time flies, yet Maruti Suzuki Swift is popular

I distinctly remember the short Japanese man with a smiling face who came to India around May 2005 to be part of the launch party of the Maruti Swift. His name was Eiji Mochizuki, Chief Engineer-Compact Cars, Suzuki Motor Corporation. He is referred to as the “Father of the Swift”. Automotive journalists from across the country took turns posing with him at the launch of the car for a photograph. I treasure my framed picture with Mochizuki even today. Maruti Suzuki (then the company went by the name Maruti Udyog Ltd), continues with the tradition of framing historic launch moments!

The Swift, which took the Indian car market by storm, since its launch in 2005, has now completed ten full years of success. Since its launch in 2005, the Swift has been a bestseller through the decade, surpassing its own records year after year. Over 1.3 million Swift cars have been sold in India. Says RS Kalsi Executive Director (M&S), “Over 1.3 million Swift cars have been bought in India so far, transforming the landscape of the Indian auto industry and inspiring new products, market segments and categories. Over the years, the Swift has evolved in features, looks and technology, often defining the changes in aspiration and preferences of Indian car customers.”

Swift has swept Car of the Year Awards in India, twice over, once when it was launched (2005) and again when the full model change was introduced (2011).